Monetary Operations and Central Bank Balance Sheets in a World of Limited Government Securities

Author/Editor:

Mark Zelmer

Publication Date:

December 1, 2001

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Policy Dicussion Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

The limited supply of government securities in some industrial countries has important ramifications for the operating techniques used by central banks to implement monetary policy, provide credit to the financial sector, and also for the assets they hold on their balance sheets. The paper reviews the salient facts regarding industrial central bank balance sheets and operating techniques, and outlines different options for dealing with a limited supply of government securities. The main conclusion is that central banks may wish to consider extending credit using a broad range of assets as collateral, and engage in outright transactions of securities guaranteed by financial institutions.

Series:

Policy Discussion Paper No. 2001/007

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

December 1, 2001

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451971583/1564-5193

Stock No:

PPIEA0072001

Pages:

25

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